Air cooler and/or humidifier



May2s,194o.' 'wn-SMITH 2,202,235

AIR COOLER AND/OR HUMIDIFIER ,.Filed Sept. 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May28, 1940.l w D `SMH-H y 2,202,235

AIR COOLER AND/0R HUMIDIFIER I Filed Sept. 12, 1938 5 Sheet-Sheet 2'Hull III' illu

May 28, 1940. w. D. sMrrH 2,202,235

AIR COOLER AND/0R HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. l2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an air cooler and humidifier and while theinvention may have various applications, it is particularly illustratedin the form of a comparatively small portable device suitable for use inrooms of a dwelling It is now universally recognized that it isdesirable and benecial to keep the humidity of the air Aabove a certainpoint. It is desirable during the hot periods to have a current of airin the room and to have the air cooled. If a fan is used which merelyblows the dry air of the room over the occupants, discomfort andstiffness of the muscles results. This objection is avoided if the airwhich is moved carries a certain amount of moisture. y

It is an object of this invention therefore, to provide a simple,compact, portable and eicient device for cooling and humidifying the airand one which may be placed at Various points in a room.

It is a further object of the invention `to provide an air cooler and/orhumidifier comprising a casing having water therein and an opening inone wall together with one or more rapidly rotated disks or disk-likemembers which project a fine spray upwardly in said casing with meansfor causing a current of air toy pass throughsaid spray and out at saidopening.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a device as setforth in the preceding paragraph, said casing preferably having an opentop into which ts a removable water container having means extendingtherefrom downwardly into said casing for maintaining a level therein,said container being removable and portable so that said means may beused in connection with faucet to ll said container. f

It is still further an object of the invention to provide an air cooler'and/or humidier comprising a casing in which are mounted one or moredisk-like members, a shaft to which said members are secured, a I notorbeing resiliently mounted on said casing at the outer side thereof fordriving said shaft and rotating said members at high speed together withmeans for preventing water from passing out of said casing about saidshaft.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an air cooler andhumidier comprising a casing having a front Wall with an openingtherein, means for producing a spray in said casing, efcient baiilemeans for preventing particles of water from passing out of said casing,means for passing a current of air through said spray and out of saidopening together with a drain and air deecting means.

It is another object of the invention to provide an air cooler andhumidifier comprising a casing adapted to contain water in its lowerportion 5 and having an open upper end with means adjacent said upperend for supporting a removable water container which may be made ofmetal o-r glass and which forms the top part of said casing.

-These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following descrip-tion made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the sev- 15.y

eral views and in which: Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of thedevice;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of said device;

Fig. 5 vis a vertical section taken on line 5-5 25 of Fig. 2 asindicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5 as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line l-- of Fig. 4 as indicatedbythe arrows;

Fig. 8 is a rear View of a modified form of the device;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken online 9-9 of Fig. 8 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 10 is horizontal section' taken on line 35 llllllV of Fig. Sasindicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 11 is a partial view-similar to Fig. 9, some parts being brokenaway and others shown in Vertical section and shown on an enlargedscale.

Referring to thedrawings a device is shown 40 comprising a casing I5.While this casing might take various forms, in the embodiment of theinvention illustrated it is shown as being substantially rectangular inhorizontal cross section, the same having side Walls |511, a rear wall45 secured to rear wall |5b, the same being shown as having spaced holesin its casing |6a through which pass headed and nutted bolts |1, washersI8 of resilient material being disposed at either side of casing |6a andone pair of these engaging the outer side of wall |51). The nuts onbolts I1 engage the inner side of wall |5b and the heads of bolts l1engage washers I9 overlying the outer washers |8. Motor I6 drives ashaft 20 extending through wall |5b and having secured thereto withinthe lower part of casing l5 a plurality of disks or disk-like members2|.

Spacing sleeves 22 surround shaft 28 between*y disks 2| and a shortsleeve 23 is secured to shaft 20 at the rear side of the rear disk 2| orthe disk adjacent rear wall |5h. Sleeve 23 is secured to shaft 28 in anysuitable manner preferably by silver soldering. The free end of shaft 20is threaded to receive a nut 24 clamping sleeves 22 in place. A cupshaped member 25 surrounds sleeve 23 and has its small end extendingthrough an opening in the rear wall |517 through which shaft 20 passes,said rear end of said cup being crimped onto wall |5b. Motor i6 isprovided with a common conducting cord 2B which will be equipped with aplug to be connected with any convenient electric circuit to supplycurrent to motor I6.

Casing l5 is provided with an opening 5e in the front wall |5c, whichopening is disposed some distance above the bottom of said casing. Aplurality of baille plates 21 are provided, the same being shown as ofangular shape in horizontal cross section, the angle thereofapproximating a right angle, said plates being arranged in parallelvertically extending relation and oppositely disposed at either side ofthe center of the opening |5e. Said plates also have an inwardlyextending lip 21a disposed substantially perpendicularly to wall |5c.Wall I 5c at either side of opening |5e is provided with an inwardlyextending lip |51 extending substantially parallel to the adjacentportion of baffle plate 21. The vertical plate 28 extends across opening|5e from top to bottom thereof, the same being disposed in a planesubstantiallyparallel to front Wall |5c and being disposed between andcentrally of the baille members 21 at either side of the center ofopening |5c. At the bottom portion of opening |5e a drain and airdeflecting plate 29 extends outwardly and upwardly. At each end of plate29 a side plate or portion 39 extends to front wall |50, the top thereofbeing horizontal and flush with the outer upper edge of plate 29.

The upper end of casing I5 is provided with a plate or flange 3|, saidplate having a peripheral vertical portion fitting within the walls ofcasing I5 and having an outwardly extending flange 3|a resting on top ofsaid Walls. Plate 3| isgprovided with an opening 3Ib. A water container32 is provided and while this may be of various forms, in the embodimentof the invention illustrated it is shown as substantially rectangular inhorizontal and vertical cross section and of a size to t within thevertical portion of plate 3| and rest on the horizontal part of saidvplate. While container 32 may be made of various materials it preferablyis made of glass or other rigid transparent material. As illustrated,said container 32 has a downwardly extending spout 32a. provided withthreads on its outer side to receive a threaded cap member 33. A gasket34 is shown as disposed between the lower edge of spout 32a and theinner side of cap 33. Cap 33 has secured thereto a rigid tube 35 whichextends upwardly in container 32 to a plane quite close to the topthereof and said tube at its top portion is provided with a plurality ofopen slots 35a. Container 32 is preferably provided with a circulardownwardly extending flange 32h surrounding the upper end of tube 35.C'ap 33 is also provided at its end portion and at one side of tube 35with a small apertured spout 33a. A flexible tube 36 such as a rubbertube, is fitted over the lower end of tube 35 below cap 33, said tube 36extending downwardly and laterally in casing l5, the same at its lowerend being provided with a member 31. Member 31 is of general cup shapehaving a hollow stem over which tube 36 ts and having a central openingin its lower side surrounded by a resilient washer 38 also having acentral opening therein. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the lower surface ofmember 31 extends at an angle to bottom plate |5d.

Rear wall |517 as shown in Fig. 5, extends rearwardly and slightlyupwardly over motor IB and has a downwardly bent edge received in areversely and upwardly bent lower portion of a plate |5g forming therear part of the upper portion of casing |5. Plate |5g is provided witha central circular opening |5h and a cylindrical member 40 extendsinwardly about said opening. Member 40 engages the inner side of plate|59 and is held in place by a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs40a extending through opening |571. and bent along the outer side ofplate |5g. Member 40 has a central plate or fin 40h which dependsvertically of opening |511, and a motor 4| is secured to the lower endof said fin. Said motor is supported by an encircling band 4|a, the endsof which extend parallel to iin 4Gb and engage resilient washers 42 ateither side thereof. A headed and nutted bolt 43 extends through saidends, n 48h and washers 42, the same being illustrated as providedvwitha wing nut 44. The shaft of motor 4| has secured thereto a fan 45disposed in the inner side of cylindrical platel 40. Motor 4| isprovided with usual cord 46 which will be equipped with a plug forconnection to a suitable electrical socket to supply current to motor4|.

Casing I5 has supporting iianges at the bottom of side walls I 5a formedby the reversely bent ends of said walls which receive the ends ofbottom wall |511. Said flanges are embraced by channel or U-shapedmembers 41 of rubber or similar resilient material which may be of anydesired length but are illustrated as extending throughout the length ofsaid supporting flanges. Rear wall I 5b is provided with an opening |57which as shown in Fig. f1, is adapted to be closed by a resilient orrubber washer 48 engaged by a metal washer 49 into which is threadedheaded bolts 50, the head of which engages a washer 5| at the outer sideof opening |57'. Opening |5y' is provided for the insertion of a heatingelement to be later described.

In operation water is placed in container 32. This container isremovable and can be carried with tube 36 to an ordinary faucet. Members31 and 38 can be placed over the spout of the faucet, member 38 beingresilient and fitting about the same. The container will be inverted asit is thus filled. When filled, the container is again placed inposition on casing I5 whereupon water ows down through spout 33a. untilthe level of water in casing |5 closes the opening through member 38.When the level of water in casing |5 falls so that the opening in member38 is exposed some air will pass upwardly into container 32 through thetube 36. This will let some water pass out through spout 33a yso thatthe level in casing I will be maintained just high enough to close theopening through member 38. Member 38 being disposed at an angle to thehorizontal allows the air more easily to enter the opening thereon thanif said member were horizontal. Members 36, 3l' and 38 thus form a levelmaintaining device. With water so disposed in the bottom of casing I5,motors I6 and il are driven. Motor I 5 rotates shaft 25 and the disks 2|at high speed. Disks 2| have their lower portions disposed in the waterin casing I5 and by their rotation they throw or project upwardly incasing I5 a ne spray. The disks extend only a short distance into thewater at their lower edges and in practice this distance has beensubstantially 1/8 of an inch at the central portions of said disks. Fan45 may he driven in any suitable manner loutV as shown, is driven bymotor 4| and causes a current of air to pass into casing I5 throughopening I5h to pass through the spray formed in said casing by disks 2|and to pass out through opening |5e. The baille plates 21 prevent anyparticles or globules of water from passing out through opening |5e.Plate 29 is provided to deflect the air from fan 135 at the lower partof the device in an upward direction. This is desirable so that if thedevice is placed on a desk the air will not blow downwardly and blowpapers or light articles on such a desk. Plate 29 can also act as adrain plate should any moisture fall thereon. As the air passes throughthe spray the air is humidied and some of the spray is evaporated sothat the air is cooled. This cool and humidiiied air passes out into theroom. Some of the particles of spray will be partly evaporated and willdrop back into the water in casing I5. This will act to cool said waterand in practice the water in said casing decreases in temperature. Thecup member 25 is provided so that water cannot work through the openingin rear plate I5 through which shaft 20 passes;

Any moisture at the rear of disk 2| adjacent said rear wall will engagecup member 25 and will drip back into the casing. Cup 25 is disposed soclose to rear disk 2| that any moisture entering the space between saidmembers will be thrown out by the centrifugal action of disk 2 I.

It is necessary to have a definite downwardly extending spout 33a so4that the air will not leak through the opening therein as itA will doif the water in container 32 is at a low level and there is just a holein the flat plate. The aperture in spout 33a forms a vent opening whilecontainer 32 is being filled. It will be noted that the motors i6 and 5|are resiliently mounted and the operation of these motors and disks 2|is practically noiseless. These motors can easily be removed if desired.

In the modication shown in Figs. 8 to ll the structure of casing I5 `issubstantially the same except that motor 4| and fan 45 together withsupporting iin llilb are omitted. Instead of having a fan and motorsupported upon casing I5 a separate fan 6B driven by the usual motor 6|and supported on a stand or in any other suitable manner is used. When aseparate fan is thus used vertically spaced plates 6| and horizontallyextending spaced plates 62 extending therebetween are provided. Theseplates 5| and 62 act as bale plates to prevent any particles of Waterfrom passing out at the rear of the casing. In Figs. 8 to l1 a heatingelement 63 is shown disposed in the bottom of casing I5. This element isillustrated as an electric heating element and the same has a casingwith a threaded stem 53a. Stem 63d extends through opening I5y' and isclamped'to the rear Wall |51) by a nut 64. A resilient washer 65 engagesthe inner side of wall |519 about opening |57'. Heating element 63 willbe provided with the usual conductors 56 which will be in the form of acord and provided with a suitable plug for connection to an electricsocket. It is desirable at times such as in the -cooler seasons to havethe water in casing i5 heated. The heating element is used to increasethe rate of evaporation in the operation of the device and is used onlywhen the desired rapid humidiflcation is desired without the coolingeffect. It will be understood that fan |50 will cause a current of airto pass through cylindrical member 40, through the spray in casing I5and out at opening E56 as already described.

From the above description it is seen that I have provided a verysimple, compact, ecient and easily portable air cooler and humidifier.The device is particularly adapted for use in rooms of homes andoffices. The air from the device can be permitted to blow upon a personin an oflice or even when the person is in bed in hot weather withoutcausing any stiffness or discomfort. The air in the room is effectivelyhumidiiied and a desired cooling effect is produced by the device in hotweather. The humidied air passing into the room tends to absorb the dustand thus also to purify the air in the room. Casing I5 can be made ofmaterial suitably coated or decorated so that the device will have avery pleasing appearance. The device has been amply demonstrated inactual practice and found to be very successful and eflicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out theobjects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An air cooler and/or humidiiier having in combination, a casinghaving spaced walls, one of said walls having an opening therethroughabove the bottom of said casing, a shaft extending through said otherwall, a disk-like member carried by said shaft extending at right anglesto the axis thereof and a cup-shaped member having its open sidedirected toward said mem- Yber and between the same and said other walland secured in said other wall about said shaft.

2. A portable air cooler or humidier having in combination, a casing ofgeneral rectangular form in horizontal and vertical cross section, saidcasing being elongated vertically and constructed and arranged tocontain water in its lower portion, said casing having openings in theopposite sides thereof, a series of zig-zag baille plates disposed invertical planes and located in said casing adjacent and extending acrossone of said openings, said casing having arecess adjacent its bottom atthe opposite side from said opening covered by the wall of said casing,a motor disposed in said recess, means in the lower part of said casingdriven by said motor for projecting a spray upwardlyin said cas ing fromthe water therein, a cylindrical member extending inwardly from theother ofsaid openings, a motor disposed in said member, a fan carried byand driven by said motor and disposed in said member, said casing havinga recess in its upper end shaped by the walls of said casing, a. waterreceptacle fitting in said recess and means extending from saidreceptacle to the lower portion of said casing for maintaining a certainlevel of water in said lower portion, whereby air is drawn into saidcylindrical member directl;7` from the atmosphere through the opening atone side of said casing and is blown through said spray and out throughsaid bafe plates so that the air does not pass through said fan afterpassing through said spray.

WEBSTER D. SMITH..

